So often, in the battleground of the soul, we fail to understand, as it says in Exodus 15:2 that, “The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.”
Have you ever considered that the Lord has more need of our weakness than of our strength: our strength is often His rival; our weakness, His servant, drawing on His resources, and revealing His glory. Our extremity is God’s opportunity. God’s way is not to take His children out of trial, but to give them strength to bear up against it.
One day a small boy was trying to lift a heavy stone, but he couldn’t budge it. His father, passing by, stopped to watch his efforts. Finally he said to his son: “Are you using all your strength?’
“Yes, I am,” the boy cried, exasperated.
“No,” the father said calmly, “You’re not. You have not asked me to help you.” The child needed to learn to depend upon his father, as an added source of strength.
Another way of exploring Godly strength is to imagine children at home being told to pick up their play things. They’ll resist parents with a passion because they don’t want to do it. But the minute the parent enters into the mess of the playroom and starts to help, they’ll jump at the task and start to pick up. That is what grace does for us. It reminds us that God jumped into the mess of our lives and worked to clean it up without us lifting a finger. And so we are strengthened and motivated by the power of God’s grace to continue to obey him.
Dear God, please give me strength when I am weak, love when I feel forsaken, courage when I am afraid, wisdom when I feel foolish, comfort when I am alone, hope when I feel rejected, and peace when I am in turmoil. In Jesus name, Amen.
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